I slept in a little bit Saturday morning and didn’t hit the road until 7:30.  I was a little depressed about this training run, I knew I would need to go at least 17 miles and I would be out there alone.  I was committed to the task though, no matter what.

 It was the longest distance I’ve ran so far and it was definitely the longest amount of time I’ve been on the road.  I have no other word to describe it but MISERABLE.  At mile 7, I ate two Shot Bloks and grabbed a PowerAde to go.  At this point, I practiced the strategy of running 10 minutes and walking for 2.  I continued that for the next 5 miles however by the time I came back to our driveway (mile 12) my feet were hurting so bad, that I thought I might be better off running barefooted.  On the third loop I stretched the walking and running out to more like a 7/5 interval and I’m sure the folks that live on McCullough and Old Settlement thought I was crazy because now I’d passed their houses several times.  I was hurting, I was lonely and I was fighting back the tears and nausea.  (I’m not cut out for these distances.)  I kept going over and over in my mind….what was different from last Saturday in New Orleans.  Then it hit me, I didn’t have Christine by my side talking the whole way! 

Somewhere in the middle of mile 14, I was on Old Settlement.  I’m fairly comfortable on this road, Mr. Jimmy, Mrs. Arnell and Troy live there, I know almost all of the vehicles, who drives what and by now I’m pretty sure everyone knows me.  Anyway, I notice a big white Dodge truck pass me rather slowly then as soon as he passed, he really sped up.  No big deal, out in the country, men sometimes do that.  But he came back, this time from behind and did the same thing.  Ok…that’s still not weird.  Then on the third pass, I looked really hard at the driver and tried to make eye contact.  I figured it would be best to let that driver know that I was aware of where he was and that he has passed several times.  Maybe it worked because he didn’t come back and maybe it was nothing at all.  Just a little suggestion to drivers that happen to be passing female runners or cyclists: We are very aware of our surroundings and anything you do out of the ordinary, we notice.  So a little thing like driving back and forth or slowing way down next to that runner or cyclist might not seem significant to you but believe me, it is very significant to us!

By the time I made it to Troy’s house, I was really hoping he was home because I planned to ask him for a ride back to our house.  He wasn’t home so I figured I’d have to tough it out and finish up the last 2 miles.  Paul and Blake drove past a mile later and brought me water and offered me a ride home.  I took the water but not ride.  I’d come this far, what’s another mile?  By this time, I was walking more than running but I would finish it.

3 hours and 50 minutes later and 18 miles later (I miscalculated a little bit), I was done.  Cam brought me a peanut butter snack bar and a bag of ice.  I just sat on our patio and cried out of frustration and pain.  The blisters on my feet were the biggest I’d ever seen; I need new shoes AND new socks.  Paul came out to check on me and talk me through it.  He also had a little surprise for me, he handed me $100 bill.  He told me that one of his parent’s neighbors saw me pass in front of his house 6 times in almost 4 hours.  He was so impressed by my persistence (and he knew I was running for St Jude) that he drove over to our house and gave Paul the money.  My running paid off Saturday, the blisters, pain and frustration were worth it! 

Thank you go James Kidd for noticing that I was out there running all morning and thank you for taking the time to personally deliver your donation.  It couldn’t have come at a better time for me!

This is Flash and I’m running on faith that I’ll get through the next month with my sanity and feet intact!